Chapter IV: Reunion

The great Dwarf Lord sat on his throne, only half-listening as Oin droned on about the tardiness of the builders who were reconstructing the southern hall in the lower levels of the city. Oin had taken over the duty of chief reporter to the King after Balin's passing, and took his duty very seriously… a little too seriously. Dwalin, the king's loyal bodyguard and friend, stood at attention beside the throne and rolled his eyes out of boredom. Thorin suppressed a smile and turned his attention away from his friend to gaze absently out at the bright, blue, sky. He soon realized that he had blocked out the voice of the dwarf altogether and was just about to tell Oin to leave the report until a later time, when Ori came running unceremoniously into the hall.

"They've been spotted my lord!" he panted, all out of breath. He had been on duty for the past week, staring out at the horizon and waiting for his chance to make this very important announcement.

"Who?" Oin asked as Ori desperately gulped in air.

"Fili and Kili they're approaching the gate as we speak!"

Thorin jolted to attention, "Are they alone?" He asked steadily the question he most desperately needed to know the answer to.

"No," Ori said with a wide grin, "Bilbo is with them!"

Dwalin clapped his large hands together once in his excitement, causing Thorin to start in surprise and turn to him, "What did I tell you?" Dwalin beamed, "I knew she would not turn down a personal invitation."

Thorin nodded and struggled to maintain his composure. To the others he appeared just as serious and stone-faced as always, but internally he was a mess of nervous excitement. He got up and approached the balcony. There, in the valley below him, were three small figures on horseback. They were riding quickly toward the gate. Thorin watched the blond-headed figure bobbing on the little, painted, pony approach the gates and wished he could make out the features of her face. Soon enough, he told himself. He would see her soon enough.

Turning to the others he ordered that the grand table be made ready and the rest of the original company members be made aware of Bilbo's approach.

"We shall have a feast tonight to welcome back our great comrade," he announced, and Ori – nearly fainting with excitement – took off to spread the good news.

"Hurry up brother! We are almost there!" Kili called behind him as he spurred his horse onward.

Bilbo laughed and spurred on her pony as well, the sound of her laugh echoed up the side of the mountain and lightened the spirits of her comrades.

"We will be there soon enough!" Fili called, "Give those poor ponies a break!"

Bilbo's little pony rushed ahead of the brothers' as if it could tell that Bilbo was in a rush to get to the city as fast as the pony could take her. She slowed the pony and looked back at the astonished dwarf brothers.

"Come on you two," She laughed, "We are so close! We can't stop now."

When they finally reached the gate Bilbo stared up in awe. She had forgotten the immense size and majesty of this great place.

They were met at the gate by four dwarven attendants who bowed low and took their poneys to the stables to be fed. Another two attendants, dressed in silvery-grey robes approached as the ponies were being taken away.

"Welcome to Erebor, Lady Bilbo," one of them said with a bow so low that his beard brushed the floor at her feet.

"And welcome back Dwarf lords Fili and Kili," the other replied with an equally low bow.

"It's good to be back, Finnian," Fili replied cheerfully, "Is our uncle in the throne room?"

"Yes, we were sent to escort you to meet him immediately," the attendant named Finnian replied.

Bilbo's heart fluttered at the realization that, in mere moments, she would be standing before the dwarven King. The feeling surprised her… what was it? Nervousness? Why would she be nervous about meeting Thorin?

They followed the attendants, in silent anticipation, down long marble hallways with immensely high ceilings. Unlike the last time she was here, the halls were not dusty and deserted but rather polished, shimmering and full of life. They arrived at two massive doors which opened slowly before them, revealing the eager faces awaiting them within, as a voice called out: "Announcing the return of Dwarf Lords Fili and Kili, and the arrival of her ladyship Bilbo Baggins."

Thorin felt his breath leave him completely as their eyes locked. She stood before him, finally, her shoulder-length, golden, curls were slightly disordered from the ride. Her rosy cheeks gave her face a warm glow and her large, blue, eyes glittered with an emotion Thorin could not place. Her clothes were rumpled and her feet bare but Thorin thought she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, and far more beautiful than the sprite his memory had conjured in her absence.

Bilbo, with a huge grin on her face, rushed toward Thorin throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. She had missed him so much; it felt almost surreal to be holding him again. She felt the soft fur of his cloak against her face and the smell of mine-dust and pipe-weed wafted into her nose. A scent she welcomed greatly. The feel of his strong arms around her made everything that more real, and safe and warm… she was home.

Thorin, more shocked at the contact than anything, quickly came to his senses and hugged her back. It had been so long since he had had this kind of contact with anyone – being the king had removed him from the common folk and no dwarf would dare take such a liberty with him. But Bilbo was not a dwarf; She came from a race of very physical beings, and Thorin was not her king, he was her friend. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of lilac – Bilbo's soap – and then, just as suddenly, she pulled back and the spell was broken. She seemed to have realized her mistake and glanced around quickly at all of her friends who were looking on indulgently with wide grins on their faces.

Bilbo finally realised what she had done and quickly released the Dwarven king and looked around at her old comrades. The wide grins present on their faces made her blush and feel even more embarrassed.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly, "I just- well, you know," she felt flustered and couldn't get her words out in a nice respectable sentence.

"That is quite alright," Thorin said with a smile, little-used of late. It felt so good to be looking at her again. He didn't even care that his subjects were tossing each other suggestive glances about his unexpected behaviour. "I would not be King if not for you Bilbo, I am your friend first, king second."

Bilbo gave Thorin a sweet smile and then turned to the others.

"Hello everyone," she said smiling. Tears started to gather in her eyes and she began to cry.

"Oh no! Don't start that!" Kili said with a laugh as he and Fili each draped an arm over her shoulders.

"I think our little companion is overwhelmed," Fili added looking at his uncle.

"Yes of course," Thorin replied, "Bofur, please show Bilbo to her chambers."

"Yes my lord," Bofur replied with a bow.